The National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition continues to deliver surprises week in, week out, with plenty of entertainment being delivered on the pitch.
Read on for our full summary of Round 3.
Match of The Round – APIA Leichhardt v Sydney Olympic at Leichardt Oval
A five-minute blitz in the second half saw APIA Leichhardt win their first game of 2024 as they defeated Sydney Olympic 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.
After a tight first stanza, it took five minutes in the second period for things to heat up as Charlotte Lancaster exploded, opening the scoring before assisting two goals in minutes with Ash Crofts and Mona Walker getting on the score sheet.
Click here to read the full match report!
NWS Spirit 1-3 Sydney University at Christie Park
Kicking-off Round 3 was an exciting clash between NWS Spirit and Sydney University at Christie Park, with Sydney Uni surprising the home side with a 3-1 win.
Heading into the fixture, Sydney Uni were yet to score or earn a point in their opening two fixtures, but they showcased plenty of attacking flair and resilience against a tough opponent in Spirit.
Sydney Uni would open the scoring in the 12th minute when Ava Pritchard found herself in acres of space behind the Spirit backline after a cross deflected off of a Spirit defender, with the No. 9 unleashing a sensational first-time volley to give her side the lead.
A second goal for Uni arrived in the 32nd minute off the back of Talia Kapetanellis’ crafty work down the left wing, which subsequently left her with plenty of time to pick out Pritchard for her brace.
The home side would respond just before halftime through Clare Holder, who fashioned out an opportunity through sheer determination by pressuring the goalkeeper, contesting and winning the resulting deflection, and beating a second defender before firing a swerving finish into the back of the net.
Ruby Egan Brown would seal the three points for Sydney Uni in the 80th minute after picking up the ball on the edge of the box and fashioning herself into space to guide the ball into the bottom right corner. 3-1 the final score.
Although Spirit had some late chances of their own, they were unable to bypass a diligent Sydney Uni side determined to get their first three points of the new campaign.
Northern Tigers 2-3 Manly United at North Turramurra Recreation Area
A local derby played out in the Northern Suburbs, with Manly United prevailing 3-2 over the Northern Tigers at North Turramurra Recreation Arena.
With neither side finding a consistent groove in the NPL Women’s competition just yet, both entered the fixture determined to secure the win.
Whilst the Tigers were wanting to put on a strong display at home against their local rivals, Manly were hoping to recapture the same spirit that earned them a surprise victory over APIA Leichardt in the opening round.
And it was the Tigers who opened the scoring in the 25th minute after a low free-kick left both sides scrambling for the ball, only for Amy Hislop to tuck the ball home after it deflected off of the post.
A fortuitous mistake from the Tigers defence provided the breakthrough for Manly, with Emily Minett blasting her finish in after Ruby Jackson’s deep cross was mishandled by the Tigers. 1-1 in the 35th minute.
Hislop would put her side in the lead again in the 40th minute with a fantastic run toward goal and an even better looping finish over the head of Manly goalkeeper Nicole Simonsen.
Manly equalised in the 59th minute through Daisy Arrowsmith, who received the ball in the box off the back of some superb linkup play by Nicole Stuart and Tegan Biasi and proceeded to fire a rocket of a finish into the top left-hand corner for 2-2.
The away side would dramatically secure the victory over their derby rivals through substitute Gemma Woolley, who found herself unmarked in the box and free to volley home the winner, ensuring that Manly were taking all three points back to Cromer Park.
Football NSW Institute 1-2 Macarthur Rams at Valentine Sports Park
Football NSW Institute and Macarthur Rams played out a closely-fought encounter on Sunday afternoon, with the Rams eventually coming away 2-1 victors.
FNSW Institute remain a tough side to beat in the NPL Women’s, and will have entered this match determined to upset a Rams side that have continued their strong form from 2023.
The home team struck first courtesy of an own goal sparked by Lauren Nada, who linked up superbly with her teammates to drive the ball into a crossing position before whipping a ball across that was unwittingly turned in by Rams defender Tenealle Hay. 1-0 to FNSW Institute in the 13th minute.
Having pushed FNSW Institute throughout the first half, the Rams would earn their equaliser on the cusp of halftime after a free-kick into the box was dropped by goalkeeper Sofia Fante under pressure from the Rams attackers, the ball trickling over the line and credited to Bronte Trew.
The Rams would secure the three points in the second half following fantastic work by Trew, who hounded the Institute backline to win the ball and direct a strike that was well-saved by Fante, with Miku Sunaga there to find the winner. 2-1 to the Rams in the 78th minute.
Coach Stephen Peters will certainly be impressed with his Macarthur Rams side thus far, with the side unbeaten heading into Round 4.
Emerging Jets 0-6 Blacktown Spartans at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
The Emerging Jets hosted the Blacktown Spartans at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Sunday evening, with the Spartans inflicting a 6-0 loss on the Hunter side.
Having struggled thus far in the NPL Women’s this campaign, the Jets will have entered the matchup with the Spartans hoping to shake off their early difficulties. By contrast, the Spartans were brimming with confidence following their significant draw with NWS Spirit the previous weekend, with their frontline combining superbly throughout the match.
The Jets almost took the lead in 20th minute through a stellar run by Alexis Collins, but were denied the opener by some brave goalkeeping by Anna Norton.
Allyssa Ng Saad would open the scoring in the 36th minute, after initially teeing up Christa Oliva for an effort that clattered against the near post, with the No. 27 in the right place at the right time to turn the loose ball in. 1-0 to the Spartans.
Barely a few minutes later the Spartans would double their lead, with Charlotte Wilford Carroll the architect for the Spartans providing an excellent ball over the top that Oliva chipped onto Ng Saad, who then bypassed Jets goalkeeper Ruby Geach and controlled the ball before making it 2-0.
A third for the Spartans would be earned just prior to halftime after the Jets left themselves open playing out from the back and Hope Cleur took advantage of an open net to confidently chip Geach for 3-0.
The Jets would add to their dismal record of giving away penalties this season by taking out Carroll just inside the 18-yard box, with the Spartans No. 12 placing her penalty perfectly to extend her side’s lead.
Despite pulling off a quality save from a long-range strike by Oliva, Geach could do nothing as Spartans substitute Kiarnie Latham was able to latch onto the resulting loose ball to make it 5-0.
A sixth goal for the Spartans came about via an own goal through Sophie Howarth, who was unlucky to see Alyssa McKenzie’s strike deflect off of her foot and in.
UNSW FC 1-1 Bulls FC Academy at The Village Green
An exciting 1-1 draw took place as UNSW FC hosted Bulls FC Academy at The Village Green on Sunday.
In the first three rounds of the season, newly-promoted UNSW have shown that they certainly do not look out of place in the NPL Women’s competition and would have taken that confidence with them as they faced Bulls FC Academy.
Having opened the season with consecutive victories, coach Jamie Gomez’ side Bulls are set on improving on their terrific 2023 campaign and will have looked forward to a tough fixture against a UNSW side who have shown they are unwilling to give any side an inch this campaign.
UNSW’s high press was key to their opening goal, with the ball won on the left wing and quickly worked to Allira Toby, who assessed her options before taking the opportunity to plant an outrageous finish over the head of Bulls goalkeeper Giovana Vidal for 1-0.
The Bulls would have to wait until the 64th minute before they found their equalising goal, as Jasmine Meli played a wonderful through ball to Amber Luchtmeijer, who surged through on goal before spotting Daniella Naeimi and setting up the No. 8 for a tap in right in front of goal, and the final goal of the game.
Illawarra Stingrays v Gladesville Ravens – WASHED OUT
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By Matthew Badrov